Mainzer Forum Medienrecht: Defamation Standards
How to balance Freedom of the Press and Protection of Personal Reputation
Comparison of approaches in Common Law, Civil Law and European Court of Human Rights' Jurisprudence
The setting of “Defamation Standards” is a difficult but important task for legislative and judicial powers in a state. Two sensitive areas need to be balanced in a way that respects the meaning of freedom of the press as a key for public participation and functioning of modern democracies as much as the right of individuals to be protected against damage to their reputation.
Defamation issues such as publication of false stories in the press about persons of public life that show negative effect before they can be corrected or simply the intrusion into private life of prominent figures show the diversity of the issue.
Not least the example of Princess Caroline trying to receive more protection via the courts – and being successful in Strasbourg – gives reason to discuss the different approaches in the various legal systems and use these examples to find out where the solution for a reasonable balancing may be.
Die Veranstaltung hat am 15. April 2005 in Englisch stattgefunden.
Vortrag und Diskussion
Professor Russell L. Weaver (U.S. Approach)
Professor of Law and Distinguished University Scholar,
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Louisville , USA
Professor Dr. Udo Fink (ECHR Approach)
Universitätsprofessor am Fachbereich Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Dr. Mark D. Cole (German Approach)
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Mainzer Medieninstitut